Today in Soap Opera History (May 17)

1933: One Man's Family expanded to a national audience.
1979: Delia loaned Johnny money on Ryan's Hope. 1988: ATWT's
Hal and Barbara celebrated on the night before their wedding.
1994: GH's Felicia learned Maxie would get B.J.'s heart.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: Radio soap opera One Man's Family expanded from being broadcast on the west coast only to the full nationwide NBC network. Created by Carlton E. Morse, the popular series ran until 1959.

1967: On Days of our Lives, Susan (Denise Alexander) continued to blame David for Dickie's accident.

1976: NBC aired the 3,000th episode of Another World.

1979: On Ryan's Hope, Delia (Randall Edwards) agreed to give Johnny (Bernard Barrow) a loan for $83,000 to save the bar. Meanwhile, Delia shocked Rae (Louise Shaffer) when she requested $83,000 in exchange for a letter to the Chancery.

1986: Actor John Gibson died at age 37. His soap roles included Cash Cashman on The Young and the Restless and Joe Hawk in One Life to Live.

1988: On As the World Turns, the bachelorette and bachelor parties for Barbara (Colleen Zenk) and Hal (Benjamin Hendrickson) came together on the night before their wedding. Lila (Anne Sward) dedicated her performance of "Wind Beneath My Wings" to the soon-to-be-married couple.

1988: On Santa Barbara, Mason (Lane Davies) was wounded while trying to rescue C.C. and Pamela. Meanwhile, Keith (Justin Deas) learned the gun that killed Mark was registered to Mason.

1994: On General Hospital, Tony (Brad Maule) told Monica (Leslie Charleson) about B.J.'s accident and how B.J. was a match for a dying Maxie's heart transplant. After also being told by Tony, Lucy (Lynn Herring) accidentally revealed to Felicia that it was B.J.'s heart that would be given to Maxie.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

2000: The final episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 series aired on FOX.

2001: Actor Robert Knapp, who played Ben Olson during the first year of Days of our Lives, died at age 77.

2002: On As the World Turns, the bandages were removed from Carly's (Maura West) face following surgery, and it was successfully restored it to the way it was before Dr. Weston aged her at the spa. Meanwhile, at Jake's memorial service, Molly (Lesli) agreed to share custody of the twins, Bridget and Michelle, with Donna (Anna Stuart) and Marley (Ellen Wheeler) for six months. Note: This was the final time Stuart and Wheeler would play their Another World characters on ATWT.

2002: At the 29th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included One Life to Live (Drama Series), The Young and the Restless (Directing), As the World Turns (Writing), Susan Flannery, Peter Bergman, Crystal Chappell, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Finnigan and Jacob Young.

In the clip below, As the World Turns' winning writer Hogan Sheffer mistakenly thanks ABC (not CBS) before being corrected. "Man, I'm going to pay for that," Sheffer says as the crowd laughs.